A 10-Day Hippo & Nocturnal Hunting Safari in South Africa
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Choose between a luxury tented camp or a well-appointed lodge, both offering spacious en-suite accommodation, excellent meals and a relaxed atmosphere after each day's hunt. Daily housekeeping, laundry service and attentive camp staff ensure a comfortable stay throughout your South African safari.
This safari combines permanent rivers, dams and dense bushveld, creating ideal habitat for hippo, Nile crocodile and a variety of nocturnal predators. Hunters can expect a mixture of riverbank hunting, bushveld stalking and carefully planned night hunts, with every terrain presenting its own unique challenge.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Town Name: | Hodspruit |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
Few South African hunting safaris combine dangerous game, nocturnal predators and unique plains game quite like this one. Conducted in Limpopo Province, this ten-day safari revolves around three of Africa's most sought-after trophies, hippopotamus, Nile crocodile and spotted hyena, before adding a collection of elusive night-time species that few hunters have the opportunity to pursue during a single safari.
Every hunting day brings something different. One morning may begin quietly watching a mature hippo surface along a riverbank before shifting attention to a giant crocodile basking nearby. As daylight fades, the focus changes completely, with patient evenings spent pursuing hyena, bushpig, honey badger, jackal or genet. The result is a safari where no two days feel the same, keeping hunters engaged from arrival through to departure.
Designed for hunters looking to maximise their time in Africa, this safari combines fully exportable trophies, comfortable accommodation and experienced professional hunters into one well-structured package while showcasing the remarkable diversity that makes Hunting in South Africa so popular with international hunters.
Price: US$21,900 per hunter (All Inclusive)
Duration: 10 Hunting Days / 9 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Observer: First observer included. Additional observers: US$250 per person, per night
Rifle Rental: Included (Thermal-equipped rifles available)
Arrival Airport: Hoedspruit Airport (HDS), South Africa
Bonus: One full-day guided tour of Kruger National Park and a professionally produced safari DVD.
Most African hunting safaris revolve around one or two species, allowing hunters to settle into a familiar routine. This safari is different. Every day presents a new challenge, requiring different hunting techniques, changing environments and a completely different way of thinking.
A morning may begin quietly watching a mature hippo surface along a riverbank before shifting to glassing sandbanks for a trophy Nile crocodile. As daylight fades, the safari changes completely. Attention turns to spotted hyena, bushpig, honey badger, jackal and genet, where patience, darkness and careful planning become just as important as accurate shooting.
This constant variety is what makes the safari so rewarding. River hunting, bushveld stalking and nocturnal hunting all demand different skills, ensuring no two days unfold in quite the same way. By the end of the safari, hunters leave with far more than a collection of trophies. They gain an appreciation for the remarkable diversity that makes Big Game Hunting in Africa unlike anywhere else in the world.
One of the greatest strengths of this safari is how effectively every daylight hour is used. Rather than focusing on a single species from start to finish, each day is carefully planned around the habits and movements of the animals being hunted, ensuring every opportunity in the field is maximised.
Early mornings often begin quietly along rivers and dams, where patience becomes just as important as marksmanship. Mature Hippo Hunts often require hunters to wait for extended periods before a bull presents the correct angle as it surfaces, while Crocodile Hunts demand careful judging over longer distances as trophy crocodiles bask along exposed riverbanks. Neither hunt rewards rushing. Both require calm decision-making, precise shooting and the discipline to wait for the right opportunity.
These are also two of Africa's most demanding dangerous game species when it comes to shot placement. Their anatomy differs significantly from that of plains game, making an understanding of Dangerous Game Shot Placement essential before arriving in camp. A quality rifle, dependable optics and premium bullets capable of penetrating heavy bone all contribute to a clean, ethical harvest when the opportunity finally presents itself.
As the day progresses, attention may shift to scouting fresh areas, checking game movement or preparing locations for the evening hunt. Every hour in the field serves a purpose, creating a rewarding balance between dangerous game hunting during the day and careful preparation for the nocturnal species that become active after sunset.
While the daytime hunts focus on hippo and crocodile, the safari takes on a completely different character after sunset. As darkness settles over the bushveld, attention turns to some of Africa's most elusive nocturnal species, where patience, silence and careful observation become the keys to success.
Night hunting demands a different kind of discipline. After spending an entire day in the field, it can be tempting to head back to camp for an early night. Instead, hunters often find themselves settling into another long wait, listening to the sounds of the African bush while waiting for a mature Spotted Hyena to approach cautiously or watching a well-prepared bait site for a trophy Bushpig. Honey badgers, jackals and genets add another level of unpredictability, ensuring every evening offers something different. Remaining focused after a full day's hunting is often one of the biggest challenges of the safari, yet those willing to stay the course are frequently rewarded.
Unlike daytime hunting, where movement and tracking play a major role, many night hunts reward patience above everything else. Activity can be unpredictable, with long periods of complete silence followed by only a brief opportunity when an animal finally appears. Those few seconds demand the same calm judgement and precise shooting required earlier in the day, making preparation and self-discipline just as important as marksmanship.
Every nocturnal species presents its own challenge. Hyena Hunting often revolves around understanding wind direction, carefully prepared bait sites and allowing an old, cautious animal to commit before taking the shot. Bushpig Hunting is equally demanding, with these elusive animals often arriving silently before disappearing just as quickly if they detect the slightest movement or unfamiliar sound. Honey badgers, jackals and genets complete a remarkable collection of nocturnal species rarely found together within a single hunting package.
For hunters who enjoy pursuing a variety of species, the evenings add another dimension to the safari. Combining dangerous game during daylight hours with carefully planned nocturnal hunting after dark allows hunters to experience two completely different styles of hunting within a single South African safari. It is this balance between action, patience and variety that makes every day, and every night count.
Travelling to this safari is straightforward for international hunters. After arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you'll connect on a short domestic flight to Hoedspruit Airport (HDS), the gateway to Limpopo's renowned hunting areas. Regular daily flights make the connection simple, with Airlink being a popular choice for hunters travelling with firearms.
Depending on your international flight schedule, an overnight stay in Johannesburg may be required before continuing to Hoedspruit. Many international hunters choose African Sky Boutique Hotel, which offers airport transfers, assistance with temporary firearm permits and comfortable accommodation before or after the safari.
On arrival in Hoedspruit, your professional hunter or a member of the hunting team will meet you for the short road transfer to camp, allowing the safari to begin almost immediately.
Whether you choose the luxury tented camp or the traditional lodge, every evening offers a comfortable place to relax after a rewarding day in the field. Spacious en-suite accommodation, welcoming communal areas and attentive staff create a relaxed atmosphere where hunters can unwind before preparing for the next day's adventure.
Meals are prepared using fresh local ingredients, with hearty breakfasts, relaxed lunches and traditional South African dinners providing the perfect end to each hunting day. Combined with daily housekeeping, laundry service and genuine African hospitality, the camp offers everything needed for an enjoyable and comfortable stay throughout the safari.
International hunters are welcome to bring their own rifles to South Africa. Temporary firearm import permits are required and involve completing the SAPS 520 application form before arrival. Hunters should also have copies of their passport, airline itinerary, proof of firearm ownership and a letter of invitation from the outfitter. U.S. hunters are advised to travel with U.S. Customs Form 4457 to simplify the return journey. If required, assistance with firearm permits and airport transfers can be arranged before the safari.
South Africa offers one of Africa's longest hunting seasons, allowing safaris to take place throughout the year. The most comfortable conditions generally occur between April and October, when cooler temperatures make long days in the field more enjoyable and game is often easier to locate around permanent water sources. The warmer summer months from November to February remain productive, although higher temperatures and seasonal rainfall can influence both hunting conditions and daily activity.
While the trophy list alone makes this one of South Africa's most diverse hunting safaris, the true appeal lies in the variety of hunting it offers. From quietly waiting for a mature hippo to surface at first light to glassing riverbanks for crocodiles and finishing the day under the African stars in pursuit of elusive nocturnal species, every hunting session presents a different challenge.
Rather than repeating the same routine each day, this safari allows hunters to experience several distinct styles of hunting within a single itinerary. The combination of dangerous game, specialised night hunting and comfortable accommodation creates a rewarding balance between action, patience and careful planning, ensuring every day in camp feels different from the one before.
For hunters looking to make the most of a trip to Africa, this safari offers far more than an impressive collection of trophies. It delivers one of the continent's most diverse Hunting Trips, combining remarkable species, experienced professional hunters and unforgettable days in the field into a single, well-planned adventure.
Please note that terms, conditions and price are subject to change without notice and rates at the time of the hunt will apply
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